Camera Labs

Hi All,

I currently own a Canon 450D with a sigma 17-70 and 55-250mm lens. I am looking at getting a new body to give me a better low light performance, AF speed and accuracy, and something that feels better to hold on to. The 450D just feels to dam small now.

I was initially looking at the Canon 60D, but I cant put my finger on what it is, but something is telling me to not buy one. I then starting looking into the Nikon bodies and found the D7000. I have now convinced myself that this is the body I need and it out performs the 60D in most areas... I'm not interested in video capture from a DSLR.. thats what a video camera is for.

I havent invested much money at all in my lenses. The sigma was second hand and I can easily get my money back on that with resale, and the tele lens was apart of the kit.

The problem i now face is I know bugger all about the Nikon range of lenses. I am thinking about picking up another sigma 17-70 as a walk around, general purpose lens and then worry about a tele lens later when the funds allow.

My question is, what are the best value for money lenses for a Nikon body? How good is the cheapo 50mm prime? (I've never used a prime lens but am fascinated by them). Also, is there a good cheapish tele lens like the canon 55-250 IS?

Thanks

Scott

If you're looking for better low light performance, the thing that sticks out to me is that you are using slow lenses.

Of course you are going to get poor low light performance when you have those lenses, as it forces you to put your ISO many stops above what it should be.

Keep your current gear, and get yourself an f2.8 zoom or an f2 or above prime. I strongly recommend the Sigma 17-50 OS f2.8 or the Canon 17-55 should be in your budget considering you want a D7000.

On another note, the best Nikon lens in terms of value for money is the superb 35mm f1.8.

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Nikon D5000 and D300 with 12-24mm, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, 60mm f2.8 Macro, 18-200mm, 17-55mm f2.8 (all Nikon)

I agree with Jeremy, go for some fast, quality lenses. The 17-55 Canon is an excellent piece of quality glass, and is truly a wise investment, assuming that you'd stick to Canon in the future. You should also look at some Canon primes, like the super affordable 50mm f/1.8, the 50mm f/1.4 or even the insanely fast 50mm f/1.2 L lens.

If you do switch to the D7000, which if you're interested in upgrading would be a good choice over the 60D, as you're not interested in video, the 35mm f/1.8 is a great lens as it gives about a 50mm equivalent and it's only about $300. It's a lens that's pretty hard to beat! Of course, Nikon also makes their cheap 1.8 and a 1.4 model, but no 1.2.

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-Evan

Gear: 7 Nikon Nikkor AI-S and AF-S lenses, SB-700 flash, Nikon D7000, Nikon FM, variety of accessories

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs."
- Ansel Adams

I agree with the comments on your lenses being slow. I learned much when I purchased a pre-owned Canon 50mm 1.8 lens, to use on my starter 400D. (My 400D actually being a Digital Rebel XTi, the USA name for it.) I now own several prime (fixed-focal-length) lenses with 2.8 apertures. Wider apertures, which make a lens "fast," can really change the way one shoots in low light.

Oddly enough, even though I do not yet own a Nikon camera, I just purchased a nice pre-owned Nikkor AI-s 50mm 1.2, a very fast lens. Now, I must decide whether to try a Novoflex adaptor, to enable the Nikkor to be mounted on a Canon body, or buy a Nikon body, probably pre-owned. I shoot mostly in low light.

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

50/1.2 --> D7000 (minimally) for sure. You can register the lens and use it with metering.

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- Wout -
Nikon D80 with 18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX
Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod with 488RC0 midi ballhead
Lowepro CompuRover AW and Nova 200 AW

I'd like to see an update to the 50mm f/1.2 AI-S Nikkor myself, the manual focusing would drive me crazy after a while on the current model.

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-Evan

Gear: 7 Nikon Nikkor AI-S and AF-S lenses, SB-700 flash, Nikon D7000, Nikon FM, variety of accessories

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs."
- Ansel Adams

Quoting WoutK89: "50/1.2 --> D7000 (minimally) for sure. You can register the lens and use it with metering."

Yes, according to a chart I found, at Ken Rockwell's site, the D7000, alone among the D+four-digit models, and D200 or newer among the D+three-digit models, will allow matrix metering, by entering lens data in a menu. Many of the better film models will also meter, and the FM3a has my attention.

The Novoflex adaptor will cost me nearly $300 US, and I have observed nice pre-owned D200 cameras selling for around $600, and I saw a D300 listed for just over $1000 US. Therefore, I am contemplating adding Nikon, but not abandoning Canon. My 7D is just too good to abandon.

My other option is to set the 1.2 aside for a quite long time, until I can afford a D700, which to me, handles quite well compared to the Canon 5D Mark II. For a while now, I have figured that when I move to full frame, I will likely go with Nikon.

As for manual focus, when shooting at night, I often have to focus manually, anyway, as it is. It does tend to make one pay attention to composition! I bought the 1.2 for night shooting.

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

Thanks for the replies everyone, i understand what you are saying aboutt the faster lenses etc, but the low light performance is only one aspect i liked about it. The main drawcard for me is the new af system... I take my camera mountain biking so having a body that can track a moving target easily will be a huge benefit.

I am also finding the 450d to small to use now.. I have quite big hands

Ergonomics are certainly a good reason to switch.

If a Nikon fits you better, go with it!

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

If autofocus is what you are looking for, check out the used prices of a D300. Mint condition ones seem to be selling for much less than a new D7000.

The 51 point autofocus system in this camera is in my (and most other people I know's) opinion the best on the market at the moment.

Remember that to get the most out of a camera's autofocus system though, you need a lens fast enough to keep up.

EDIT: If you're based in the UK, this at the moment strikes me as a particular bargain

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Nikon D5000 and D300 with 12-24mm, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, 60mm f2.8 Macro, 18-200mm, 17-55mm f2.8 (all Nikon)